Kendall Langford and Quinton Spain: Sons of Petersburg

PETERSBURG - The coaches, the mentors, the people who knew them from their high school days and kept up with their journeys through the years - they were on-hand to see the two NFL players come home.

Together Kendall Langford and Quinton Spain stood, two sons of Petersburg and two star players who in high school wore crimson and gold beneath the Friday Night Lights. They were back in the library, and again in the William W. Lawson Jr. Gymnasium. They were back in the place that set the foundation for the men they would become.

In the library, they received keys to the city from Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham. In the gym, they watched as their high school jerseys were retired.

The two NFL players were home again. They were honored not just for their professional feats, but for representing Petersburg as positive role models.

"It's a huge deal. I'm proud to be from Petersburg. I'm proud of Quinton, the path he's taken, he's from Petersburg, and I'm just proud that we both can be here at the same time sharing this moment together," said Langford, Petersburg High School Class of 2004. "It's a big deal to us for us to have a room full of family and friends and just to know that we have the city behind us and they're backing us 100 percent and recognizing the good that we're doing out here for the community, for the youth, for Petersburg as a whole. We try our best to represent Petersburg well by keeping our nose clean and being class citizens."

"I'm just happy to be from Petersburg and happy to come back and give back to the community," said Spain, PHS Class of 2010. "I just want to give back and give advice to kids."

Langford achieved all-district, all-region and all-metro honors in high school as a player for the Petersburg Crimson Wave. He played college football at Hampton University and became the school's first defensive lineman to earn First Team All-Conference (MEAC) honors three seasons in a row since former Dolphins defensive tackle Ike Readon did so from 1983 to 1985.

Langford would become a Dolphin himself, drafted by Miami in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Langford has also played for the St. Louis Rams and the Indianapolis Colts.

"I've had some great people around me ...to put me in the position I'm in today, learn how to be a man and just the life lessons," Langford said. "A lot of people just think: just because you're from the City of Petersburg, you've got this label where you can't do nothing but...get in trouble...we just defeat the odds.

Langford added: "Gotta mention the Man Upstairs, because without Him, none of this is possible."

Spain in high school was named Petersburg High School Team MVP in 2008, All-Top Gun High School Offensive Lineman in 2009 and U.S. Army All-American in 2010. Spain was also a member of Petersburg High School’s 2009-10 AAA state runner-up basketball team.

At West Virginia University, Spain twice earned All-Big 12 honors and in 2014 was named to the All-Big 12 First Team by ESPN.com, as well as to the All-Big 12 Second Team by the Associated Press.

You can find @quinton_spain on Twitter under the name "Mr. Undrafted," as he was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent. The six-foot-four, 300-pound offensive guard completed his third season with the Titans, who finished the regular season on a 9-7 record and reached the NFL Divisional Round after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 22-21.

"We had to work hard and get where we're at," Spain said. "It's a blessing that we made it to the League and [can] show the kids what it takes to get there."

"Because coming from Petersburg, nobody give us anything, and ... we're from Petersburg, we want it the hard way," Langford said, noting they were "able to have success that way and hopefully we're paving the way for the rest of the youth that's wanting to follow in our footsteps, whether it's to be pro football players or businessmen or whatever - just be good men and women outside of Petersburg."

Both players have given back to the City of Petersburg. Langford ensured renovations to Petersburg High School's weight room in 2012 and previously held a camp, and Spain over the last two years has held two free football camps for the youth at PHS.

"We rep Petersburg strongly, we hold it close to our hearts," Langford said.

"When I grew up, nobody came back and did the camps for me," Spain said, "so I feel like, when I left, I wanted to come back and show the kids what it takes to get to the next level."

- Nick Vandeloecht may be reached at nvandeloecht@progress-index.com, 804-722-5151 or @NickVanDelPI on Twitter.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Submit Content

Market Place

Social Media

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Progress-Index ~ 15 Franklin Street, Petersburg, VA 23803 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service